5252 
fl5 

0a 

y 2 



rersity oi the State ol New York Bulletin 

as second-class matter August 2, 1013, at the Post Office at Albany, N. Y., under the 
act of August 24, iqi2 

Published fortnightly 



No. 715 



ALBANY, N. Y, 



August 1, 1920 



ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION 

OF 
PART-TIME SCHOOLS 



CONTENTS 



PAGE 

Foreword 3 

Division of Vocational and Exten- 
sion Education 5 

Definition of a part-time school . . 6 
The law and the regulations of the 

Regents 6 

Part-time schools required to be 

established 6 

Sessions of part-time schools ... 8 

Courses of study 8 

Attendance regulations and' 

establishment of sufficient 

schools 9 

Required attendance of minors . 1 1 

Survey required 12 

Regents required to establish 

regulations 13 

Penalties for failure to comp y 

with attendance pro visions .. . 13 
Provisions affecting employers 

of minors 13 

Powers and duties of local 

boards of education and the 

Commissioner of Education . . 14 
Penalty for failure to establish 

part-time schools . 14 

Advisory board 15 

Authority of local board of 

education 15 

State aid 16 

Regulations as to licensing of 

teachers 17 

Inspection and reports 18 



PAGE 

Annual submission of plan as to 

part-time schools 18 

Distribution of the Smith- 
Hughes funds 19 

Recommendations of Commis- 
sioner of Education 21 

Purpose of part-time schools ... 21 

Courses of study 21 

Supervision 24 

Employment and service of 

teachers 25 

Central school for part-time 

pupils 26 

The assembly 27 

Need and purpose of reservoir 

class 27 

Separate classes for boys and 

girls 28 

Placement of children 28 

Special methods and features of 

teaching. 29 

Unification of instruction 29 

Relation between evening classes 

and part-time classes 30 

Relation of the part-time to the 

full-time school 30 

Certificates 30 

Buildings and equipment 31 

Attendance on Saturday morn- 

. ing 32 

Bibliography on part-time educa- 
tion 33 



ALBANY 

THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK 

I920 



T62r-D2O-3000 (7-4677) 



THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK 

Regents of the University 
With years when terms expire 
(Revised to January 17. 1021) 

1926 Pliny T. Sexton LL.B. LL.D. Chancellor - - Palmyra 

1927 Albert Vander Veer M.D. M.A. Ph.D. LL.D. 

Vice Chancellor Albany 

1922 Chester S. Lord M.A. LL.D. ----- Brooklyn 

1930 William Nottingham M.A. Ph.D. LL.D. - - Syracuse 

1924 Adelbert Moot LL.D. ------- Buffalo 

1925 Charles B. Alexander M.A. LL.B. LL.D. 

Litt. D. ----------- Tuxedo 

1928 Walter Guest Kellogg B.A. LL.D. - - - Ogdensburg 
1932 James Byrne B.A. LL.B. LL.D. ----- New York 

1929 Herbert L. Bridgman M.A. LL.D. - - - - Brooklyn 

193 1 Thomas J. Mangan M.A. __--__ Binghamton 
1921 William J. Wallin M.A. ------ - Yonkers 

1923 William Bondy M.A. LL.B. Ph.D. - - - New York 

Acting President of the University and Commissioner of Education 

Frank B. Gilbert B.A. LL.D. 

Assistant Commissioner and Director of Professional Education 

Augustus S. Downing M.A. Pd.D. L.H.D. LL.D. 

Assistant Commissioner for Secondary Education 

Charles F. Wheelock B.S. LL.D. 

Assistant Commissioner for Elementary Education 

George M. Wiley M.A. Pd.D. LL.D. 

Director of State Library 

James I. Wyer, Jr, M.L.S. Pd.D. 

Director of Science and State Museum 

John M. Clarke D.Sc LL.D. 

Chiefi and Directors of Divisions 

Administration, Hiram C. Case 

Archives and History, James Sullivan M.A. Ph.D. 

Attendance, James D. Sullivan 

Examinations and Inspections, Avery W. Skinner B.A. 

Law, Frank B. Gilbert B.A. LL.D., Counsel 

Library Extension, William R. Watson B.S. 

Library School, Edna M. Sanderson B.A. B.L.S. 

School Buildings and Grounds, Frank H. Wood M.A. 

School Libraries, Sherman Williams Pd.D. 

Visual Instruction, Alfred W. Abrams Ph.B. 

Vocational and Extension Education, Lewis A. Wilson 



26192? 






™ .ft> ' \ FOREWORD 



U 

It was with a clear recognition of the need and right of working 
children for adequate educational opportunities which would better 
fit them for their duties as citizens, that the Legislature of 1919 
passed and Governor Alfred E. Smith signed the part-time school 
law, which it seems to me might well be called the " Children's 
Charter," because of the guarantees which it makes on the part of 
the State to all children who live in this Commonwealth. I regard 
boys and girls who early in life enter upon vocational pursuits as 
peculiarly of concern to the State and I hold as a solemn obligation 
this great opportunity which has come to us to conserve their 
interests, for certainly, as never before, may it be truly said that our 
national future depends upon the ideals of our youth, upon their 
faith in democracy and their fitness for it. These many thousands 
of 14, 15, 16 and 17-year old children who every year leave the 
schools constitute such a large portion of our citizenship that they 
become without doubt the very foundation of society. 

It is gratifying to note that while the movement for compulsory 
part-time schools in the United States is of recent origin, New York 
is but one of a group of nineteen states which will have such schools 
in operation in September 1920, the others being Arizona, California, 
Illinois, Iowa, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, 
Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, 
Pennsylvania, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin. Wisconsin 
enacted in 191 1 a law setting up compulsory continuation schools, 
Pennsylvania followed in 191 5 and the seventeen other states men- 
tioned in 1919. Every state will doubtless have some such law in 
the very immediate future. Part-time schools may in consequence 
be regarded as a constituent part of our American state education 
program. 

I regard the purpose of these schools as being of a twofold nature : 
for the preparation of youth for participation as citizens in the 
political life of the State, and for the guidance toward and the 
training of youth for useful occupations. These two aspects are 
complementary each to the other. Teaching in the part-time school 
will include the history and theory of our government and social 
organization, and such vocational instruction as will best aid each 
child to realize a life of fullest usefulness. Our education for 
citizenship has not always been so definitely organized in its voca- 



4 THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK 

tional phases as we might well wish it to be. Preparation for indus- 
trial occupations, commercial occupations, agricultural occupations 
and homemaking should be included in the opportunity offered in a 
plan of free education under public supervision and control, each 
community determining the scope of that vocational opportunity in 
relation to its special needs. 

Finally I would say that the part-time school is truly democratic 
only because it is compulsory; in other words, being compulsory it 
will truly be for all children rather than a favored few who might 
secure its advantages were attendance to depend upon desire and 
ability to elect it. 

I wish that I might express in some more adequate way to the 
hundreds of teachers who will aid in the development of this new 
type of school my faith in what I am sure they will accomplish for 
the betterment of the coming generations. 

I wish to thank especially the city and village superintendents 
whose practical advice and whose cordial cooperation with Mr 
Wilson in planning for the organization of these schools, have not 
only given new proof of their intelligent zeal in behalf of the 
children of the State but have also made possible the initiation of 
this work with their unanimous approval and support. 

And above all I wish to make acknowledgment of the efficient, 
indefatigable, sacrificing labor of Mr Wilson in this cause. 

John H. Finley 
Commissioner of Education 



University of the State of New York Bulletin 

atter August 2, 1913, at the Post 
mder the act of August 24, 1913 

Published fortnightly 



Entered as second-class matter August 2, 1913, at the Post Office at Albany, N. T., 
under the act of August 24, 1912 



No. 715 ALBANY, N. Y. August i, 1920 

ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION 

OF 
PART-TIME SCHOOLS 

The purpose of this bulletin is to define such provisions of chapter 
531 of the State Education Law, as relate to compulsory part-time 
or continuation schools, and to explain the rules and regulations of 
the Regents of the University and the recommendations of the Com- 
missioner of Education relative to the organization and administra- 
tion of such schools. Such recommendations as are made are based 
upon experience gained in other states and countries in the conduct 
of part-time schools and are in harmony with the plans and policies 
of the Federal Board for Vocational Education. 

DIVISION OF VOCATIONAL AND EXTENSION 
EDUCATION 

The Division of Vocational and Extension Education of The 
University of the State of New York is charged with the general 
supervision of vocational instruction, as provided for under the 
State Education Law, the administration of vocational education 
under the provisions of the federal vocational education act, and 
with the duty of gathering and making known all obtainable helpful 
information upon the subject. 

Whenever the establishment of any form of vocational instruction 
is contemplated in any locality in this State, application for pre- 
liminary advice and guidance should be freely made to this Division. 

The various types of state-aided schools over which this Division 
has supervision are : general industrial schools, unit trade and 
technical schools, evening vocational schools, part-time or continua- 
lion schools, practical arts or homemaking schools and schools of 
agriculture, mechanic arts and homemaking. 



6 THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK 

DEFINITION OF A PART-TIME SCHOOL 
Under the terms of the New York State Education Law a part- 
time or continuation school or class is a school or class for boys and 
girls between the ages of fourteen and eighteen years who are not 
high school graduates and who have discontinued attendance upon the 
regular full-time schools. Such a school or class provides instruction 
for not less than 4 and not more than 8 hours a week for 36 weeks 
each year on regular school days between 8 o'clock a. m. and 5 o'clock 
p. m. in subjects which are designed to increase the civic and voca- 
tional intelligence of the pupils. 

In this bulletin the term " part-time school " will be used to desig- 
nate that which the law calls a " part-time or continuation school.' 

THE LAW AND THE REGULATIONS OF THE REGENTS 
OF THE UNIVERSITY 
Sections of chapter 531 of the Laws of 1919 of the State of New 
York, and the regulations made thereunder by the Regents of The 
University of the State of New York governing the establishment of 
part-time schools, follow : 

Part-time Schools Required to be Established 

Section 601, paragraph a: 

§ 601 Part-time or continuation schools shall be established in 
cities and school districts, having a population of five thousand or 
more inhabitants, a The board of education of each city and of each 
such school district in which there are twenty or more minors above 
the age of fourteen years and below the age of eighteen years, who are 
not in regular attendance upon instruction, shall establish and maintain 
part-time or continuation schools or classes in which such minors shall 
receive instruction. Such schools or classes may be established in public 
school buildings, in other buildings especially adapted for their operation, 
in manufacturing or mercantile establishments and in factories. Such 
schools or classes, wherever they are established or maintained, shall 
be under the control and management of the board of education and shall 
be a part of the public school system of the city or district which main- 
tains them. Courses of study in private or parochial part-time or con- 
tinuation schools or classes which meet the requirements of the statutes 
and the regulations prescribed thereunder may be approved by the Com- 
missioner of Education and, when thus approved, attendance thereon shall 
be accepted for that required under this article. 



ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF PART-TIME SCHOOLS 7 



Regulations of Regents 
i Separate classes required for part-time pupils. Minors who are 
required to attend part-time school must be instructed in classes 
specially organized for their benefit. Part-time pupils shall not be 
placed in classes with regular full-time elementary or high school 
pupils except with the approval of the Commissioner of Education. 

2 Classes in manufacturing or mercantile establishments and in 
factories. If classes are established in manufacturing or mercantile 
establishments and in factories, local boards of education having 
control and management of such classes are charged with the 
responsibility of seeing that the rooms provided for the work are 
properly heated, lighted and ventilated, and that proper equipment is 
provided for carrying on the instruction of the pupils. Such rooms 
must conform to all the pertinent provisions of sections 451 and 
452 of the Education Law as amended by chapter 140 of the Laws 
of 1910, and the regulations made thereunder. 

3 Private or parochial part-time schools or classes. To meet the 
needed approval of the Commissioner of Education private or 
parochial part-time schools or classes must in their courses of study 
and in the manner in which they are conducted conform to the 
following regulations : 

a The course of study must be approved by the Commissioner of 
Education and must meet all requirements prescribed for courses 
of study in public part-time schools. 

b The teachers must meet all the requirements of the Regents of 
the University relative to the licensing or certificating of teachers 
for the part-time classes maintained under public supervision and 
control. 

c The classes must be in session for the same number of hours a 
week and weeks a year as the public part-time classes maintained in 
the same city or district. 

d The buildings or rooms must meet the standards prescribed for 
buildings or rooms used for public school purposes. 

e The equipment provided must be suitable and sufficient for the 
needs of the courses offered and at least as good as that provided for 
the part-time classes maintained by the local board of education. 

/ Such private or parochial part-time schools or classes shall be 
subject to the inspection of the Commissioner of Education at such 
times as he may elect and it is hereby required that he shall make an 
inspection of each such school or class at least once each year. 



8 THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK 

g Minors in attendance upon private or parochial part-time schools 
or classes must be instructed in classes specially organized for their 
benefit. 

Sessions of Part-time Schools 

Section 60 1, paragraph b-' 

b Such part-time or continuation schools or classes shall be maintained 
each year during the full period of time which the public schools of a 
city or district are in session. The sessions of such part-time or con 
tinuation schools or classes shall be on the regular school days and for as 
many hours between the hours of eight o'clock forenoon and five o'clock 
afternoon as shall be necessary to provide the required instruction for 
such minors who reside in said city or district. 

Regulations of Regents 

1 Regular school days. The required attendance shall be for a 
total of not less than 36 weeks a year, at the rate of not less than 4 
and not more than 8 clock hours a week, and shall be between the 
hours of 8 o'clock in the morning and 5 o'clock in the afternoon of 
any working day or days of such minors as are required to attend 
Attendance shall not be required on any Saturday after 12 o'clock 
noon, and no school shall be in session on a legal holiday except 
general election day, Washington's birthday and Lincoln's birthday 

2 Length of sessions. Any session of a part-time school or class 
shall be for not less than 120 consecutive minutes during any regular 
school day. 

Courses of Study 

Section 601, paragraph c: 

c The courses of study in such part-time or continuation schools or 
classes shall be approved by the Commissioner of Education and shall 
include among other subjects instruction in American history, the right? 
and obligations of citizenship, industrial history, economics, the essentia' 
features of the laws relating to the industries taught, and shall alsr 
include such other subjects as will enlarge the vocational intelligence of 
such minors. 

Regulations of Regents 
1 Approval of part-time courses by Commissioner of Education. 
To meet the needed approval of the Commissioner of Education the 
courses of study must conform to the following requirements: 

a One-half of the required time of attendance shall be devoted to 
the teaching of the subjects required by law to be taught and such 
other general subjects as may be deemed necessary by the local school 
authorities. 



ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF PART-TIME SCHOOLS 9 

b One-half of the required time of attendance shall be devoted to 
elective courses in homemaking subjects, or industrial subjects, or 
academic subjects, or agricultural subjects, or commercial subjects. 

c Every city and school district shall establish and maintain two 
approved courses chosen from among the following courses : 

(1) industrial course 

(2) commercial course 

(3) homemaking course 

(4) agricultural course 

d Boards of education may require girls who have not had suit- 
able instruction in homemaking to elect at least 72 clock hours of 
instruction in homemaking subjects. 

e At the discretion of the Commissioner of Education modifica- 
tions may be made as to the requirements as to elective courses until 
such time as the law becomes fully operative. 

Attendance Regulations and Establishment of Sufficient Schools 

Section 601, paragraph d: 

d The board of education of each city and of each such school district 
shall make necessary arrangements to 'begin to operate and maintain 
such part-time or continuation schools or classes, on the opening of the 
public schools in September 1920, and shall annually thereafter in Sep- 
' tember open and maintain additional schools and classes so that by 
the opening of the public schools in September 1925, a sufficient number 
of such schools shall have been established as to afford the required 
instruction under this article to those minors who are required to attend 
such schools or classes. 

Regulations of Regents 

1 Boards of education must establish attendance regulations. On 
or before June i, 1920, boards of education shall establish rules and 
regulations setting forth the group or groups of children who are to 
be required to attend part-time classes each year until the law becomes 
fully operative. A copy of the rules and regulations shall be filed 
with the Commissioner of Education after adoption. 

2 Method of enforcement. For the purpose of initiating the 
required program of part-time schools local boards of education shall 
compel the attendance, commencing on September 1, 1920, on an 
equal basis and in partial fulfilment of the terms of the law of a 
certain group or groups of children affected by the law, and shall 
annually thereafter in September of each year compel the attendance 
of a certain additional group or groups of children, provided that 



IO THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK 

by September 1925 all children affected by the law shall be reached 
by compulsory regulations. Local boards of education may require 
the attendance of children upon part-time classes on the basis of any 
one of the four following plans: 

a Attendance required according to distribution in age groups. 
If this plan is adopted all children of a given age group shall be 
required to attend part-time school commencing in September 1920, 
and annually thereafter additional groups of children of a given age 
shall be required to attend, so that by September 1925 all children 
affected by the law shall be in attendance. Boards of education may 
require the attendance in any one year of one or more given age 
groups under this plan of enforcement. 

b Attendance required according to distribution as to educational 
qualifications. If this plan of enforcement is adopted all children 
having given educational qualifications shall be required to attend 
part-time schools commencing in September 1920, and annually 
thereafter additional groups of such children shall be required to 
attend so that by September 1925 all children affected by the law 
shall be in attendance. Boards of education may require the attend- 
ance in any one year of one or more groups of children having given 
educational qualifications. 

c Attendance required according to distribution as to residence or 
employment. If this plan is adopted all minors resident or employed 
in a given ward, district or part of a city or school district shall be 
required to attend in September 1920, and annually thereafter all 
minors resident or employed in certain other wards or districts or 
parts of the city shall be required to attend so that by September 
1925 all minors resident or employed in the entire city or district 
are in attendance. 

d Attendance required according to age distribution and educa- 
tional qualifications. If this plan is adopted all children of a given 
age with given educational qualifications shall be required to attend 
in September 1920, and annually thereafter certain additional groups 
of children having given age and educational qualifications shall be 
required to attend, so that by September 1925 all children resident 
or employed in the entire city or district are in attendance. 

3 Continuous attendance. Under any plan of enforcement of 
attendance which may be adopted by a board of education, it shall 
be required that a minor who has once commenced attendance upon 
a part-time school shall continue such attendance until reaching the 
age of eighteen. 



ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF PART-TIME SCHOOLS II 

Required Attendance of Minors 

Section 601, paragraph e: 

e Each minor under the age of eighteen years, who is not in regular 
attendance upon a public, private or parochial school or who is regularly 
and lawfully employed in some occupation or service, unless such minor 
has completed a four-year secondary course of instruction approved by 
the Regents of the University, shall attend a part-time or continuation 
school or class in the city or district in which such minor resides or 
may be employed. Such attendance shall be for not less than four hours 
per week and not more than eight hours per week for each week which 
such school or class is in session except that the school authorities may, 
subject to the approval of the Commissioner of Education, permit any 
such minor to increase the number of hours per week of required attend- 
ance and decrease the number of weeks of required attendance. Such 
minor who is temporarily out of regular employment or service shall 
attend such school not less than twenty hours per week. The attendance 
upon a part-time or continuation school or class shall be between the 
hours of eight o'clock forenoon and five o'clock afternoon. 

Regulations of Regents 

i Approved four-year secondary course of instruction. If a minor 
has completed a four-year secondary course of instruction which has 
not been approved by the Regents of the University such minor may 
present to the local school authorities or to the Commissioner of 
Education proper evidence as to the character of the course which 
he has completed and if satisfactory to such local school authorities 
and to the Commissioner of Education such minor may be excused 
from attendance upon part-time school. 

2 Enforcement of attendance on the basis of residence or employ- 
ment. The following rules shall be observed in the enforcement of 
the required attendance : 

a Any minor subject to the provisions of the law who resides 
within a district where part-time schools are maintained but is 
employed in a district where part-time schools are not maintained 
shall attend the part-time schools maintained in the district where 
he resides. 

b Any minor subject to the provisions of the law who is employed 
within but does not reside within a district where part-time classes 
are maintained shall attend such part-time classes in the district where 
he is employed. 

c Any minor subject to the provisions of the law who is employed 
within a district maintaining part-time classes and resides within 



12 THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK 

another district maintaining part-time schools shall attend such part- 
time classes in the district where he resides or is employed. 

3 Hours of attendance. 

a Local boards of education shall require the attendance of minors 
for four hours each week during such time as the schools of the 
city or district are in session, until such time as the Board of Regents 
shall pass rules requiring the enforcement of the maximum number 
of hours of attendance permitted by the law. 

b Local boards of education may at their discretion require the 
attendance of minors subject to the law for 8 clock hours each 
week. 

4 Increasing the number of hours a week of required attendance 
and decreasing the number of weeks of required attendance. Local 
boards of education may, with the approval of the Commissioner of 
Education, establish rules and regulations providing for an increase 
in the number of hours a week of required attendance and a decrease 
in the number of weeks of required attendance. Such a plan must 
provide for at least 144 clock hours of instruction for each minor 
during any one school year, and must conform to all other regula- 
tions governing part-time schools. 

5 Minors temporarily out of employment. Any minor without 
employment for five consecutive days shall be considered as being 
temporarily out of regular employment. 

6 Absence from part-time school. Minors who are absent from 
part-time school without a justifiable excuse for such absence, as is 
defined by Regents rules, shall be required to make up the time lost 
due to such absence, and within a reasonable time after the occurrence 
of the absence. 

7 Attendance of married female minors. Married female minors 
may be excused from attendance upon part-time classes. 

8 Attendance of minors under 16 years of age temporarily out 
of regular employment. Minors under 16 years of age who are 
temporarily out of regular employment are required to attend 
regular full-time day school. 

Survey Required 

Section 601, paragraph /•" 

/ The Commissioner of Education shall make a survey of each city or 
district to ascertain the industrial, commercial, economic and social 
needs of such city or district and the benefits and opportunities to be 
afforded through the establishment of such part-time or continuation 



ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF PART-TIME SCHOOLS 13 

schools or classes to the community and to those who are required to 
attend such schools or classes. The Industrial Commission and the 
Commissioner of Agriculture shall cooperate with the Commissioner of 
Education in making such survey. 

(No regulations made thereunder.) 

Regents Required to Establish Regulations 
Section 601, paragraph g: 

g The Regents of the University shall establish regulations to govern 
and regulate the administration of such part-time or continuation schools 
or classes and the attendance of minors thereon. To meet local neces- 
sities the board of education of each city or school district may establish 
regulations but such regulations shall not conflict with the regulations 
adopted by the Regents. 

(No regulations made thereunder.) 

Penalties for Failure to Comply with Attendance Provisions 
Section 601, paragraph h: 

h The parent, guardian or other person having the custody or control 
of a minor who is required under the provisions of this article to attend 
a part-time or continuation school or class shall cause such minor to 
attend such school or class. A parent, guardian or other person who 
refuses or fails to comply with this provision of the law shall be deemed 
guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be subject to a fine 
of not more than one hundred dollars or by imprisonment for not more 
than ten days, or both such fine and imprisonment, at the discretion of the 
court. Any minor under sixteen years of age who fails to attend upon 
instruction as defined by this article shall be subject to the provisions of 
section 635 of the Education Law, and a minor over sixteen years of 
age who fails to attend upon instruction as required by this act may be 
punished for any such violation by a fine not exceeding ten dollars, or by 
imprisonment for not more than ten days, or by both such fine and 
imprisonment. 

(No regulations made thereunder.) 

Provisions Affecting Employers of Minors 

Section 601, paragraph i: 

i Any person, firm or corporation employing a minor between the ages 
of fourteen and eighteen years shall permit the attendance of such minor 
upon a part-time school or class whenever such part-time school or class 
shall have been established in the city or district where the minor resides 
or may be employed, and upon the termination of employment of any 
such minor the employer shall return within three days the employment 



14 THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK 

certificate of such minor by mail to the school authorities, and a person, 
firm or corporation employing a minor over fourteen years of age and 
less than eighteen years of age contrary to the provisions of this article 
shall he subject to a fine of not less than twenty-five dollars and not 
more than one hundred dollars for each offense or by imprisonment 
in the city or county jail for not less than five days and not more than 
ten days, or by such fine and imprisonment at the discretion of the court. 
A person, firm or corporation, which has in its employ a minor who 
fails to attend a part-time or continuation school or class as required 
herein, shall immediately discontinue the services of such minor upon 
receiving from the school authorities written notice of the failure of such 
minor to attend such part-time or continuation school or class, and a 
person, firm or corporation violating this provision of law shall be 
subject to a fine of fifty dollars for each offense. 

(No regulations made thereunder.) 

Powers and Duties of Local Boards of Education and the 

Commissioner of Education 

Section 601, paragraph /: 

j The board of education of each city or district having a population 
of five thousand or more inhabitants is hereby required to enforce the 
provisions of this law and the Commissioner of Education is hereby 
charged with the duty and vested with necessary authority to supervise 
the enforcement and administration of this act. 

(No regulations made thereunder.) 

Penalty for Failure to Establish Part-time Schools 

Section 60 1, paragraph k: 

k If the authorities of such a city or school district fail or refuse to 
provide the necessary funds for the establishment and maintenance of 
such part-time or continuation schools or classes as are required under 
this law, the city or district shall forfeit from the funds due such city 
or district from the State for school purposes an amount equal to that 
which is estimated by the board of education as necessary to properly 
operate and maintain such schools or classes. The public or state funds 
thus forfeited by such city or district shall be apportioned by the Com- 
missioner of Education to the board of education of such city or district 
for the purpose of maintaining such part-time or continuation schools or 
classes and the board of education of the city or district receiving such 
funds shall apply the same toward the maintenance of such schools 
or classes and in payment of the expenses incurred thereby. 

(No regulations made thereunder.) 



ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF PART-TIME SCHOOLS 1 5 

Advisory Board 

Section 603 : 

§ 603 Appointment of an advisory board. 1 The board of education 
shall appoint an advisory board of five members representing the local 
trades, industries, and occupations. In the first instance two of such 
members shall be appointed for a term of one year and three of such 
members shall be appointed for a term of two years. Thereafter as 
the terms of such members shall expire the vacancies caused thereby 
shall be filled for a full term of two years. Any other vacancy occurring 
on such board shall be filled by the appointing power named in this 
section for the remainder of the unexpired term. 

2 It shall be the duty of such advisory board to counsel with and 
advise the board of education in relation to the powers and duties 
vested in such board by this chapter. 

Regulations of Regents 

1 One advisory board required. A board of education main- 
taining more than one kind of vocational school as provided for in 
chapter 531 of the Education Law shall be required to appoint but 
one advisory board. 

2 Membership on advisory board and board of education. A 
member of a board of education shall not be appointed a member of 
an advisory board. 

Authority of Local Board of Education 
Section 604: 

§ 604 Authority of the board of education over such schools. The 

board of education in a city or in a union free school district in which 
city or district a general industrial school, unit trade or technical school, 
a school of agriculture, mechanic arts and homemaking, or practical 
arts or homemaking school, or a part-time or continuation school, or an 
evening vocational school is established as provided in this article, is 
vested with the same power and authority over the management, super- 
vision and control of such school and the teachers or instructors 
employed therein as such board now has over the schools and teachers 
under their charge. Such boards of education shall also have full power 
and authority: 

1 To employ competent teachers or instructors. 

2 To provide proper courses of study. 

3 To purchase or acquire sites and grounds and to purchase, acquire, 
lease or construct and to repair suitable shops or buildings and to prop- 
erly equip the same. 

4 To purchase necessary machinery, tools, apparatus and supplies. 

(No regulations made thereunder.) 



l6 THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK 

State Aid 

Section 605 : 

§ 605 State aid for general industrial schools, unit trade and tech- 
nical schools, part-time or continuation schools, practical arts or 
homemaking schools, evening vocational schools and schools of 
agriculture, mechanic arts and homemaking. 1 The Commissioner of 
Education, in the annual apportionment of the state school moneys shall 
apportion therefrom to each city and school district for each general 
industrial school, unit trade and technical school, part-time or continua- 
tion school, practical arts or homemaking school or evening vocational 
school, maintained therein for thirty-six weeks during the school year and 
employing one teacher whose work is devoted exclusively to such school, 
and having an enrolment of such number of pupils as may be required 
by the Commissioner of Education and maintaining an organization and 
a course of study, and conducted in a manner approved by him, a sum 
equal to two-thirds of the salary paid to such teacher, but not exceeding 
one thousand dollars. 

3 The Commissioner of Education shall also make an additional 
apportionment to each city and union free school district for each addi- 
tional teacher employed in the schools mentioned in the preceding sub- 
divisions of this section for thirty-six weeks during the school year, a 
sum equal to one-half of the salary paid to each such additional teacher, 
but not exceeding one thousand dollars. 

5 The Commissioner of Education, in his discretion, may apportion 
to a district or city maintaining such schools or employing such teachers 
for a shorter time than thirty-six weeks, or for a less time than a regu- 
lar school day, an amount pro rata to the time such schools are main- 
tained or such teachers are employed. This section shall not be con- 
strued to entitle manual training high schools or other secondary schools 
maintaining manual training departments, to an apportionment of funds 
herein provided for. 

Any person employed as teacher as provided herein may serve as prin- 
cipal of the school in which the said industrial or trade school or course, 
or school or course of agriculture, mechanic arts and homemaking, is 
maintained. 

Regulations of Regents 
State aid for first teacher not exclusively employed. If the first 
teacher employed in connection with an approved part-time school 
or class devotes less than full time to the instruction of part-time 
pupils, the board of education employing such teacher shall make a 
separate contract with such teacher on account of services in con- 
nection with an approved part-time school or class. The city or 
school district in such case shall be apportioned a sum equal to two- 
thirds of the salary paid to such teacher on account of such part-time 
work, but not exceeding one thousand dollars. 



ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF PART-TIME SCHOOLS 1 7 

Regulations of the Regents as to Licensing of Teachers 

1 Special certificate required to teach in part-time schools. No 
person shall be appointed to teach in a part-time school who does 
not hold a certificate authorizing such person to teach some subject 
or subjects in a part-time school. 

2 Qualifications of teachers. Applicants for special licenses to 
serve as teachers in part-time schools must be prepared to satisfy 
the Commissioner of Education that they are qualified to serve as 
teachers of general subjects, or teachers of homemaking subjects, or 
teachers of industrial subjects, or teachers of commercial subjects. 
The qualifications required to secure a license as a teacher in any one 
of the four fields mentioned above are as follows, or the equivalent 
thereof : 

a Teachers of general subjects : graduation from an approved 
high school and evidence of at least two years of approved special 
training. 

b Teachers of homemaking subjects : graduation from an approved 
high school and evidence of graduation from an approved four-year 
course in home economics, or graduation from an approved high 
school and evidence of completion of an approved two-year course 
in home economics and at least three years of successful teaching 
experience, or approved vocational experience. 

c Teachers of commercial subjects: graduation from an approved 
high school, and the completion of an approved advanced commercial 
course not less than two years in length, or graduation from an 
approved high school and three years of satisfactory practical 
experience in commercial work. 

d Teachers of industrial subjects: graduation from an approved 
high school and evidence of graduation from a two-year advanced 
training course providing instruction for the preparation of teachers 
of industrial subjects; or evidence of general education satisfactory 
to the Commissioner of Education and at least five years of suc- 
cessful experience as a journeyman in the trade which the applicant 
for a license desires to teach. 

3 Period of validity of special certificate. A special certificate may 
be granted for three years and after two years of successful experi- 
ence it may be renewed for five-year periods. No special certificate 
shall be granted except at the request of a village or city superin- 
tendent of schools after the applicant shall have been assured of a 
position to teach. The Commissioner of Education may require that 
a candidate for a special certificate take a testing examination. 



1 8 THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK 

Regulations of the Regents as to Inspection and Reports 

i Annual report. The board of education of each city and school 
district where part-time schools are established and maintained shall 
make a report to the Commissioner of Education on blanks to be 
furnished by him on or before August 1st of each year concerning 
such part-time classes as have been maintained during the preceding 
year. 

2 Inspection of part-time classes. The Commissioner of Educa- 
tion shall make from time to time suitable inspections of such part- 
time schools and classes. 

3 Approval of part-time classes. Schools and classes approved 
after inspection, or submission of annual report, or both, shall be 
entitled to quotas of state or federal aid, or both, as provided by 
law and by regulation of the Board of Regents. 

Regulations of the Regents as to Annual Submission of Plan as 
to Part-time Schools 

1 Boards of education shall submit plan. The board of education 
of each city and school district where it is required by law that 
part-time schools be established shall submit to the Commissioner of 
Education on or before September I, 1920, a plan showing just how 
the city or district expects to meet the provisions of the law during 
the ensuing year. A new plan shall be submitted on or before 
September 1st of each succeeding year until September 1926. 

2 Scope of plan. The Commissioner of Education shall furnish 
the necessary blanks for this required plan which will indicate the 
information which is to be furnished and which shall include among 
other things : 

a Financial provision which has been made by the city or district 
for the support of part-time schools or classes. 
b Provision made for housing schools and classes. 
c Special equipment to be provided or used. 

d Teachers and their qualifications and compensations to be paid. 
e Administrative plan. 
/ Courses of study. 
g Names and addresses of members of advisory board. 



ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF PART-TIME SCHOOLS 19 

Distribution of the Smith-Hughes Funds for Part-time Schools 

The Commissioner of Education on or before September ist of 
each year shall apportion among the cities and school districts of the 
State which are required to maintain part-time or continuation schools 
not more than one-third of the federal funds provided under the 
Smith-Hughes act and set apart in any one year for the " salaries of 
teachers of trade, home economics and industrial subjects." Such 
apportionments shall be determined in accordance with the following 
paragraphs : 

1 Supervision quota. Any city or district employing four or more 
teachers for the instruction of part-time pupils and which pays such 
teachers in salaries an amount at least twice as great as the quota 
provided for in this paragraph shall be entitled to one " supervision " 
quota, if such city or district employs a supervisor who devotes all 
of his time to the supervision and direction of part-time classes. This 
supervision quota (which is given on account of the salaries paid to 
part-time teachers) shall be a sum equal to two-thirds of such 
portion of the salary actually paid to such supervisor as is in excess 
of $1500, but not to exceed $1000 of aid from Smith-Hughes funds 
in any one case. 

2 Quota for cities and districts not employing a supervisor. Any 
city or district not entitled to a supervision quota under the terms of 
paragraph ( 1 ) of this regulation but which employs one teacher who 
devotes full time to the instruction of part-time pupils, and to the 
coordination of the work of such part-time pupils with the instruc- 
tion, shall be entitled to receive one " first-teacher " quota. This 
quota shall be a sum equal to two-thirds of such portion of the 
salary actually paid to such teacher as is in excess of $1500 but not 
to exceed $1000 of aid from Smith-Hughes funds in any one case. 

3 Only one supervision or one first-teacher quota granted to a city 
or district. A city or district may receive one " supervision " quota, 
or one " first-teacher " quota, but not both such quotas. 

4 Insufficient funds to pay quotas. If in any one year the amount 
of Smith-Hughes money available shall be insufficient to pay the 
quotas as planned, the amount available shall be pro rated on the 
basis of the planned allotments. 

5 Funds in excess of amount needed to pay quotas. If in any one 
year the amount of Smith-Hughes money available shall be in excess 
of the amount required to pay quotas as planned such excess shall be 
distributed among the cities and districts of the State on an equitable 



20 THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK 

basis and according to a plan to be determined by the Commissioner 
of Education. 

6 Previous regulations as to Smith-Hughes funds for part-time 
schools. All previous regulations of the State Board for Vocational 
Education (the Regents of The University of the State of New 
York) as to the distribution of Smith-Hughes funds for part-time 
or continuation schools are hereby repealed. 



ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF PART-TIME SCHOOLS 21 



RECOMMENDATIONS OF COMMISSIONER OF 
EDUCATION 

The remaining portion of this bulletin consists of definitions, 
information and the recommendations of the Commissioner of Edu- 
cation relating to the organization and conduct of part-time schools 
and classes. The recommendations are based upon a study of suc- 
cessful American and foreign part-time schools and are particularly 
designed to help the schools to meet the needs of the children who 
are required to attend. 

Purpose of Part-time Schools 

The part-time school is not an institution intended to provide 
training to make up for deficiencies in the general education of boys 
and girls who leave the regular schools between the ages of fourteen 
and eighteen, nor is it to be regarded as a substitute for the regular 
school. Obviously it is impossible to accomplish in from 4 to 8 
hours of instruction a week that which the full-time schools find it 
difficult to do in from 25 to 30 hours of work a week. Rather the 
part-time school will attempt to make the break between the school 
life of the child and the work life of the child less difficult through 
some properly adjusted plan of vocational guidance and vocational 
training which will take into consideration the practical aspects of an 
individual's duty as a citizen and his potentialities as a worker. To 
this end the part-time school will concern itself with the explanation 
in an elementary way of the various institutions which society has 
developed for its own protection and perpetuation and for the wel- 
fare of the individuals who constitute that society. It will help the 
child to choose a vocation, to improve his leisure and will serve to 
make him generally a better citizen. In as far as it may be possible, 
it will give definite training for the vocation which the child chooses 
and engages in. 

Courses of Study 

Boards of education may well set up any one or all of the follow- 
ing courses of study in as far as such courses may serve the needs 
of the children of a particular city or district : 

1 A commercial course 

2 An industrial course 



22 THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK 

3 A homemaking course 

4 An academic course 

5 A course for subnormal children 

6 An agricultural course 

To meet the requirements of the Board of Regents and to secure 
the needed approval of the Commissioner of Education it is recom- 
mended that all commercial, industrial, homemaking and agricultural 
part-time schools or classes should in their courses of study and in 
the manner in which they are conducted conform to the following 
fundamental ideas : 

i Commercial subjects, or industrial subjects, or homemaking sub- 
jects, or agricultural subjects, should occupy at least one-half of the 
required time of attendance of the pupils. 

2 Instruction in the required subjects, which are American history, 
the rights and obligations of citizenship, industrial history, economics 
and the essential features of the laws relating to industries taught, 
should form a part of every course. 

3 Instruction in English and hygiene should be given as a part of 
every course. 

4 The equipment should be suitable and sufficient for the purposes 
of the work and the methods of instruction. 

Three outlines of suggested part-time courses are given below for 
the purpose of indicating a suitable distribution of the time to be 
devoted to the various subjects. 

Industrial Course 



American history, industrial history, civics and economics. 

English 

Arithmetic or applied mathematics 

Hygiene and physical training 

Industrial subjects, as shop work, drawing, laws relating 

to industries 120 240 

Homemaking Course 

American history, industrial history, civics and economics. 

English 

Arithmetic or applied mathematics 

Hygiene and physical training 

Homemaking subjects, as cooking, sewing, home decora- 
tion, household sanitation, millinery 120 240 



Four 
hour 


Eight 
hour 


program 


program 


30 


60 


30 


60 


30 


60 


30 


60 



30 


60 


30 


60 


30 


60 


30 


DO 



ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF PART-TIME SCHOOLS 23 

Commercial Course 

Four Eight 

(For preparatory pupils) program program 

American history, industrial history, civics and economics. 30 60 

Elementary vocational business practice 5° I0 ° 

Commercial arithmetic 30 60 

Business English 40 80 

Commercial geography 30 60 

Hygiene and physical training 30 60 

Business writing 30 60 

(For extension pupils) 

American history, industrial history, civics and economics.. 30 60 

Commercial arithmetic 30 60 

Business writing 30 60 

Business English 40 80 

Hygiene and physical training 30 60 

Bookkeeping 

and 

Typewriting or filing „ 80 160 

or 
Shorthand 

and 

Typewriting 80 160 

or 

Retail selling courses 80 160 

Special Academic or High School Courses 
Many children who are required to attend part-time classes have 
completed some regular high school work. These pupils may desire 
to secure sufficient academic credit to qualify themselves for entrance 
to certain of the training or professional schools which are open to 
those who have completed less than four full years of high school 
work, or they may desire to secure an academic diploma. Boards of 
education might well offer regular high school courses to such pupils, 
subject to the following conditions : 

1 No part-time pupil to be permitted to elect high school work 
who does not hold a Regents preliminary certificate or the equivalent. 

2 At least one period of instruction in required subjects to be 
given each week to pupils who elect academic courses. 

3 Part-time pupils who are being instructed in academic subjects 
to be given such instruction in classes particularly organized and 
intended for them. 

No community should set up a plan which would tend to encourage 
pupils under sixteen years of age to take evening school instruction 



24 THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK 

at the same time that they are receiving part-time training. Boys 
and girls over sixteen years of age might be permitted to attend 
both day part-time classes and evening classes, but the Education 
Department does not recommend that any scheme of academic 
instruction connected with the part-time school be planned which 
would require or encourage attendance upon evening school. 

Communities which plan to offer academic instruction to part-time 
pupils should submit their plans to the Assistant Commissioner for 
Secondary Education and to the Director of Vocational and Exten- 
sion Education. 

Course for Subnormal Children 

The subnormal children constitute a special problem in the part- 
time school. Such children have, of course, been unable to profit 
by the regular forms of instruction and have in most school systems 
been segregated in special classes. Doubtless they would not profit 
much from the regularly planned part-time courses, and many com- 
munities may find it possible to provide instruction exclusively 
planned for their benefit. This instruction may well be largely along 
manual lines. 

Special classes need not be designated as subnormal classes but 
entrance should be carefully restricted to those for whose benefit 
they were primarily planned. This sort of special class work in con- 
nection with the part-time school should not, however, be attempted 
unless competent experts are available to select from the general 
group those who particularly belong to special classes. 

Agricultural Course 
Some communities in the State may find it desirable to set up a 
part-time course in agriculture. In such cases a special plan should 
be submitted to the Director of Vocational and Extension Educa- 
tion for his approval. 

Supervision 

Every community having 200 or more part-time pupils will require 
the services of at least one person who will devote all or a portion 
of his time to the organization, administration and supervision of 
the part-time school. It is to be noted that under the provisions of 
section 605 of the Education Law the first teacher employed in con- 
nection with a part-time school is expected to devote all his time to 
the instruction, supervision or coordination of part-time schools or 
classes, or to other forms of state-aided vocational education. 



ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF PART-TIME SCHOOLS 25 

It should be recognized at the outset that considerably more of 
administrative detail is involved in the conduct of part-time schools 
and classes than is in the case of the full-time schools. New pupils 
will be regularly entering part-time classes and old ones leaving. 
Special cases relative to attendance will be constantly demanding 
adjustment. The work of placement and advisement will need con- 
stant attention. The proper conduct of an assembly demands that 
every topic presented to pupils be carefully worked out. These and 
other duties such as are regularly expected will demand the full time 
and strength of a supervisor in most places. 

The results of part-time work will be determined very largely by 
competent leadership. The constant inspiration and supervision of 
a director or principal will be required to the end that all the instruc- 
tion may have a definite bearing upon the life of the child in terms 
of present or future needs as a member of society. He will need to 
eliminate the types of instruction that are purely formal and to 
substitute such as are significant and practical. 

The Commissioner of Education recommends the appointment of 
a director of part-time classes wherever possible. Such a director 
might well have charge of state-aided evening vocational classes. 

Paragraphs 1 and 2 of the Regulations of the Regents as to the 
distribution of the Smith-Hughes funds for part-time schools indi- 
cate clearly that it is the desire of the Board of Regents that every 
community employ either one person who will devote full time to 
the organization, administration and supervision of part-time classes, 
or else part of the time to such work and the remainder to the 
teaching of part-time classes. 

Employment and Service of Teachers 

The general terms as to the employment and service of teachers in 
part-time schools will be fixed by local boards of education. In 
determining the character and extent of the services which are to be 
required the peculiar demands which the part-time school makes upon 
teachers should be kept in mind. In consequence it is recommended 
that no teacher be required to do more than 24 hours of teaching in 
any one week. It is expected, however, that a teacher's duties will 
consist of more than teaching. Every teacher employed should assist 
in the work of advisement which will take them to the homes of the 
parents and to the places where the pupils are employed. Every 
teacher may well be required to do a certain amount of visitation 
work each week. 



26 THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK 

«> 

Special attention is called to the necessity for participation on the 
part of every teacher in the recommended placement and follow-up 
work. Good placement work requires that the teacher have a first- 
hand knowledge of the vocational opportunities which exist in the 
community where he is employed. Consequently adequate oppor- 
tunity should be given for visitation of industrial, mercantile and 
other establishments where minors are employed. 

It is recommended that every teacher be required to devote at 
least one-fourth as much time to visitation, placement and follow-up 
work as such teacher devotes to actual teaching. 

Central School for Part-time Pupils 

The best interests of part-time pupils will be served in most 
communities if all the classes and types of work be housed in a 
central school. From the standpoint of effective administration this 
is the most feasible plan, and it will be found that in the long run. 
better and more extensive educational facilities can be secured than 
under circumstances where the work is distributed among a number 
of schools. 

Where the numbers involved justify the situation the part-time 
classes may well be housed in a separate and special building intended 
for the accommodation of day part-time classes and evening classes. 

It is recommended that the part-time classes be under the direction 
and supervision of a special and separate school head who is charged 
by the board of education and the superintendent of schools with the 
responsibility for their organization and conduct. Even if part-time 
classes are housed in the same building with full-time classes, they 
should be in charge of a separate and special executive. Responsi- 
bility for the work and conduct of part-time classes should be 
definitely fixed. Experience in other states indicates the advisability 
of a central school plan and a specially designated executive head. 

The chief advantages of the central school plan are : ( i ) ease of 
administration, (2) better control of attendance possible, (3) pupils 
can be graded more satisfactorily, and (4) a larger group of special 
teachers can be provided. It is obvious that if all the part-time 
classes of a city meet in a central building the details of administra- 
tion of a part-time plan can be handled by a single director or super- 
visor with the least delay and the least expenditure of energy ; this 
applies particularly to the enforcement of attendance regulations. 
A large number of pupils attending a single school makes possible 



ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF PART-TIME SCHOOLS 2*] 

a greater number of class units and furnishes the opportunity for 
better and more careful grading, which also makes it possible to 
give pupils the advantage of being taught by teachers who are 
selected because they are specialists in certain fields. 

The Assembly 

A well-conducted school assembly will afford many opportunities 
for effective teaching. This is particularly true in the cases where 
a number of classes or groups of pupils can be brought together for 
instruction in subjects of fundamental importance and common 
interest, such as citizenship and general science. Good unit lessons 
in these subjects may be taught with relatively large groups. 

The assembly may be used to develop interest in the really worth- 
while new movements for social and civic betterment such as 
clean-up week, better English week, thrift campaigns, extended use 
of the public libraries, and the like. 

Much can be done in such a period to develop a strong school 
spirit. 

Need and Purpose of a Reservoir Class 

The part-time school is primarily a vocational guidance institu- 
tion; consequently when each pupil reports for part-time instruction 
adequate opportunity should be afforded for a proper study of his 
particular case. This can be best done in a special class organized 
for this purpose and in charge of a teacher who is interested in 
guidance and placement work. A class of this type is generally called 
a reservoir class. As soon as a pupil enters the part-time school he 
should be placed in such a class and remain there for the first two 
or three months, or until he can decide upon or be directed toward 
a suitable course or program of school work. 

The teacher who has charge of the reservoir class will need to 
make some evaluation of the powers and possibilities of each pupil. 
In this evaluation the past school record of the pupil may be a factor, 
but it should not be considered as a determining one. The employ- 
ment in which the child is engaged should be considered, and in 
every instance the place of employment of the child should be 
visited. The teacher should visit the home as well, consult the 
parents and enlist their cooperation in the work which is to be done 
to benefit the child. All these elements enter into a proper case 
study and not until this has been made should the child be permitted 
to choose the type of school work which he is to undertake. 



28 THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK 

Girls should be placed in a separate reservoir class from that in 
which boys are. Some form of practical work may well be pro- 
vided for both groups, as cooking for girls, or general woodworking 
for boys, and for at least one-half of the required time of attendance 

Separate Classes for Boys and Girls 

In as far as it may be possible and in keeping with an economical 
scheme of instruction and administration, it is recommended that 
separate classes, or schools, be maintained for boys and girls, except 
perhaps in the case of commercial classes. The experience of such 
cities as Boston, Detroit and Milwaukee would indicate that such a 
recommendation is based on a sound psychology. 

The employment of men teachers for boys' classes and women 
teachers for girls' classes is urged. The fourteen to eighteen year 
old boy needs the guidance and example of men, just as the girl need? 
the guidance of women, while passing through the period of 
adolescence. 

Placement of Children 

A special responsibility rests upon teachers and administrators of 
part-time schools relative to the proper placement of children in 
suitable employments. Wherever sufficiently large numbers of 
children are in attendance upon part-time schools to warrant the 
employment of a full-time placement officer it will be found that the 
expenditure will be amply justified. Probably in many of the com- 
munities in the State the work of placement will have to be under- 
taken by the teachers. 

Children between the ages of fourteen and eighteen make frequent 
changes as to employment, often for trivial causes. These changes 
are sometimes made because a slightly larger wage is offered and 
without much regard to the permanency or future possibilities of 
the new work to be undertaken. While every sort and kind of work 
needs to be done in every community, and while it is certainly true 
that teachers should not discourage any child from undertaking any 
kind of honorable employment which will not endanger his health 
or morals, it is clearly the duty of the part-time school to advise and 
direct the child in as far as it may be possible to take up employments 
which offer the largest future possibilities in the way of personal 
advancement. 

Frequently children secure a work permit but fail to obtain any 
regular employment and often spend much of their free time under 



ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF PART-TIME SCHOOLS 20, 

unfortunate influences. The best interests of every child and of the 
community in which the child lives demand that regularity of employ- 
ment obtain in every instance after the issuance of a work permit. 
The part-time school should reduce materially the number of cases 
of juvenile unemployment. 

Employers should be encouraged to hire children who have pre- 
viously secured work permits in preference to taking pupils out of 
the regular schools. They should be regularly informed that num- 
bers of boys and girls attending part-time schools are always out 
of employment and that these should undoubtedly be given employ- 
ment before others are persuaded to leave full-time school. 

Special Methods and Features of Teaching 

The make-up of the student body in a part-time school requires 
that much of the instruction be individual in character, and that even 
in subjects where group or class instruction is given, each lesson be 
a unit in itself. It will be found that the composition of every class 
will be constantly in the process of change and that the teacher will 
find himself confronted each day with the problem of fitting a new 
pupil into the scheme of instruction. Good teaching demands the 
maximum of self-activity on the part of the pupils, and despite all 
the disadvantages connected with a plan of individual instruction, it 
will probably operate to produce the maximum of pupil effort under 
the given conditions. 

Individual instruction depends for its effectiveness on (i) a well- 
organized and carefully graded series of lesson or instruction sheets 
or plans, (2) small class groups which will permit of the teacher 
giving considerable attention or individual help to each pupil, and (3) 
definite information in regard to the training and occupation of 
each pupil. 

Where group instruction is given each lesson should be a unit- 
lesson and not dependent upon previous instruction given to the 
class as a whole. A large amount of excellent teaching may be 
done in science, hygiene, citizenship, economics and history without 
any course of study background. 

Unification of Instruction 

It is obvious that with a plan of part-time education involving 
only 4 or 8 hours of required work each week, the possibility exists 
that the short period of instruction may be so dissipated that no 
appreciable results will be obtained. The work needs to be unified 



30 THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK 

in thought and intensely interesting to the pupils. That this may 
obtain in the largest measure certain features must be observed in 
the organization of the curriculums and the program of the school. 
Two of these features deserve special attention: (i) the part-time 
instruction must center about the practical work, and (2) the full 
4 hours of instruction required in any one week should be given to 
any one child by one instructor. 

Relation between Evening Classes and Part-time Classes 

A very definite relationship should be maintained between the 
part-time school and the evening school. Every community main- 
taining part-time schools might well maintain evening schools which 
would provide suitable instruction in academic, commercial, industrial 
and homemaking subjects. The industrial work in particular should 
be planned to be supplemental to the daily work of persons engaged 
in trade or industrial occupations. At or about the time that pupils 
reach the age of eighteen their attention should be definitely directed 
to opportunities which are provided for their education in evening 
schools. 

The person in charge of part-time classes might well be given the 
responsibility for the organization and conduct of evening schools. 

Relation of the Part-time to the Full-time School 
Part-time training can not be regarded in any sense as a substitute 
for the work of the regular schools. It is clearly the duty of the 
part-time teachers to direct as many as possible of the pupils who 
come under their charge back into the regular schools. To this end 
the various opportunities in the way of general, industrial, com- 
mercial and homemaking education which are open to persons of 
school age in the community should be frequently explained. This 
should be regarded as a part of the vocational guidance work of 
every teacher of fourteen and fifteen year old children. 

Certificates 

A part-time school certificate may well be issued by local boards 
of education to any eighteen year old pupil who completes part-time 
work. Such a certificate should state the last grade which the pupil 
completed in regular school and the titles of the subject or subjects 
which a pupil completed in part-time schools. 



ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF PART-TIME SCHOOLS 3 1 

To be entitled to receive such a certificate a pupil should meet the 
following requirements : 

1 Be 1 8 years of age. 

2 Have actually completed all the work of the courses which are 
to be entered upon the certificate, when issued, to the satisfaction of 
the local school authorities, which course or courses have been 
approved by the Commissioner of Education. 

Buildings and Equipment 

The State Department of Education will insist that suitable pro- 
vision as to buildings and equipment be made for the part-time 
classes. Probably in many places the classes will be taken care of 
in public school buildings during such times as these buildings are 
not in use for regular instruction. If local boards of education 
are compelled to rent space for the use of part-time classes, every 
necessary provision for the instruction, health and safety of the 
pupils should be made. During past years a number of part-time 
classes have been maintained in the manufacturing or mercantile 
establishments where the pupils attending such classes were employed. 
While the law permits of such a plan it is not particularly recom- 
mended as the most desirable one, except in the instances where sup- 
plemental instruction is being given to sixteen and seventeen year old 
children. 

The buildings and rooms used for part-time schools or classes 
should conform to all the pertinent provisions of sections 451 and 
452 of the Education Law as amended by chapter 140 of the Laws 
of 1910 and the regulations made thereunder. Attention is par- 
ticularly called to the following provisions : 

a At least 15 square feet of floor space and 200 cubic feet of 
air space shall be provided for each pupil to be accommodated in 
each study room or recitation room. 

b At least 30 cubic feet of pure air shall be provided every minute 
for each pupil. 

c The facilities for exhausting the foul or vitiated air shall be 
positive and independent of atmospheric changes. 

d All halls, doors, stairways, seats, passageways and aisles and 
all lighting and heating appliances and apparatus shall be arranged 
to facilitate egress and afford adequate protection in cases of fire 
or accident. 



32 THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK 

e All exit doors shall open outwardly, and shall, if double doors 
be used, be fastened with movable bolts operated simultaneously by 
one handle from the inner face of the door. 

Attendance on Saturday Morning 
For the purposes of the part-time law and that the needs of the 
local communities might be better served by making provision for 
a more complete utilization of public school buildings the Board of 
Regents has ruled that part-time classes may be held between the 
hours of 8 o'clock in the morning and 5 o'clock in the afternoon of 
any working day or days of such children as are required to attend, 
but that attendance shall not be required on any Saturday after 
12 o'clock noon. 

No community should plan to give all the required instruction on 
Saturday mornings. After September 1925 cities and villages might 
well hold part-time classes only on the customarily recognized school 
days. Provision should be made everywhere as soon as possible for 
separate rooms and equipment for part-time work, and particularly 
in such places as now find existing facilities inadequate for the 
furnishing of satisfactory part-time instruction. 

It is recommended that attendance be required on Saturday morn- 
ings only in such communities as find it impossible to give the instruc- 
tion at any other time. In such cases the employers of the children 
who are to be compelled to attend, should be consulted and their 
approval secured before initiating the work. Due regard should 
also be paid to the religious beliefs and practices of every member 
of the community. 



ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF PART-TIME SCHOOLS 33 



BIBLIOGRAPHY ON PART-TIME EDUCATION 
This list of bulletins is intended for the use of directors and 
teachers of part-time work. It is not intended to be exhaustive, but 
rather has been planned to include only a few of the more important 
and readily accessible publications. 

Federal and State Bulletins 

California, State Board of Education, Sacramento, syllabus of an 
introductory course on part-time education, p. 190, Jan. 1, 1920. 

Federal Board for Vocational Education, Washington, D. C, 
Bulletins 13 and 14, Agricultural Series. Bulletins 17, 18, 19 and 
20, Trade and Industrial Series. Bulletin 22, Commercial Educa- 
tion Series. Third Annual Report, 1919. 

Massachusetts, State Department of Education, division of voca- 
tional education, Boston. Compulsory continuation schools, a cir- 
cular of information on the Boston compulsory continuation school, 
p. 180, 1920. Needs and possibilities of part-time education, 
p. 164, 1913. 

New York, State Department of Education, Albany. Organiza- 
tion and administration of part-time schools, p. 42, 1920. State-aided 
evening vocational schools, p. 37, 1919. Special course for the 
training of teachers for part-time schools, p. 8, 1920. Syllabus for 
secondary schools, commercial subjects, p. 50, 191 9. 

Ontario Department of Education, Toronto, Canada. Recom- 
mendations and regulations for the establishment, organization and 
management of industrial, technical and art schools, p. 74, 1919. 

Oregon State Board for Vocational Education, Salem, Oregon. 
Rules and regulations governing the organization and administration 
of part-time schools and classes under the Oregon part-time school 
law, p. 31, 1920. 

Wisconsin, State Board of Vocational Education, Madison. 
Monograph no. I, Machine shop practice, p. 18, 1919. 

Monograph no. 2, Electricity, p. 16, 1919. 

Monograph no. 3, Citizenship, p. 32, 1919. Monograph no. 4, 
Sheet metal, p. 11, 1919. Monograph no. 5, Teacher training, p. 16, 
1919. Monograph no. 6, Printing, p. 13, 1919. Monograph no. 7, 
Telegraphy, p. 14, 1920. Monograph no. 8, Cabinet making, p. 15, 
1919. The following are out of print : Bulletin 10, Outlines of 
lessons, p. 516, 1914. Bulletin 11, Outlines of lessons, p. 363, 1915. 



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